It had been long—so long—ago when Kitano Ryuuichi first met Symboli Rudolf.
It was during his very first loop.
At that time, he did not even know that the world would someday allow him to "reset." He only thought one thing:
If I have somehow traveled to the world of horsegirls, then as an unqualified trainer, I should at least make my stay worthwhile.
After all, he was nothing more than an ordinary man who had merely passed the Central Trainer Certification.
From the age of twenty to forty-five, Kitano worked tirelessly as a local trainer.
Then, by a special clause, he was granted an exception and allowed to transfer into Central Tracen Academy.
Yes—an exception.
According to the Central District's special provisions, a local trainer who performed well could be considered for promotion even if they repeatedly failed theoretical exams. But even then, they must have spent roughly twenty years working diligently, and the horsegirls they trained locally must have been strong enough to stand out—preferably even challenging the regional open-class races.
But Kitano met none of the requirements.
He had been a local trainer for only fifteen years.
His theory exams were abysmal every single time.
The umamusume he had trained were all entirely mediocre.
Under normal circumstances, such a person could never become a Central trainer—even with special provisions.
The turning point of his first loop occurred when the former student council president, a uma named Shenzan, stopped by the local region for an unexpected inspection.
To clarify: Kitano truly had no idea who "Shenzan" was although he had played the mobile game before time-traveling, Shenzan simply wasn't present in the game—no art, no reference, nothing.
By chance, Kitano struck up a casual conversation with Shenzan and her entourage.
As a joke, she asked him which newcomer he believed had the greatest potential to become the strongest horsegirl of the generation.
Kitano—who always followed Central horsegirl news closely—blurted out without thinking:
"Symboli Rudolf, without question. She'll become the first undefeated Triple Crown horsegirl."
Back then, Symboli Rudolf had only just debuted and was overshadowed by other rising stars. Shenzan didn't take his response seriously.
But after Rudolf dominated her way through the Satsuki Sho, Shenzan finally paid attention to Kitano's words.
And because of that, under Shenzan's recommendation,
Kitano gained entry into Central Tracen Academy.
Not only that—he was even assigned as Symboli Rudolf's trainer.
Strange, isn't it?
A mediocre, unremarkable forty-five-year-old local trainer, who entered Central through a backdoor exception, somehow became the trainer of the genius horsegirl who had just claimed the first jewel of the undefeated Triple Crown.
Even if Rudolf's trainer slot had long been vacant, it still defied logic.
Shenzan said to them:
"You were the first to tell me that Symboli Rudolf would become the first undefeated Triple Crown horsegirl. And now, that prophecy is already halfway fulfilled. I don't believe you are as mediocre as you seem."
"Rudolf, you may be confused. But believe this:
Anyone who could predict your future without ever meeting you in person must have either extraordinary insight—or extraordinary luck. And luck is something you desperately need before the upcoming Japanese Derby."
"You two—get to know each other. And work well together."
Kitano remembered clearly that when their eyes met for the first time, he saw something shift in Rudolf's gaze—from disdain, to neutrality.
He had been terrified, yet after a long pause, he forced himself to speak to the "Emperor" before him:
"It's an honor to meet you, Symboli Rudolf… I don't know how much I can do for you, but I believe you will be the first undefeated Triple Crown horsegirl."
"…Very well. I look forward to working with you, Trainer."
What followed felt like watching a film play out before his eyes.
He watched Rudolf seize the Japanese Derby.
Then the Kikuka Sho.
She truly became Japan's first undefeated Triple Crown horsegirl.
Then came her expedition abroad, her defeat, her triumphant return—never once losing the dignity of an Emperor.
Everything unfolded so naturally, as if preordained.
As if Kitano's presence—or absence—made no difference.
And because he knew Rudolf's history so thoroughly, Kitano couldn't help but feel it:
She would have achieved all of this with or without him.
During those years as her trainer, he was repeatedly labeled as:
"The useless trainer attached to the Emperor."
"The Emperor's accessory."
And later, when their trainer-trainee relationship was dissolved, he could only watch Rudolf return to the magnificent Symboli household…
That was a bitter memory he preferred not to revisit.
But there were words Rudolf had said to him back then—words he remembered even now.
"…The Symboli family will not allow their future head to remain beside an ordinary trainer forever."
"So, Trainer… if one day you return to seek me out again, I hope I will meet a version of you who has already achieved greatness—someone worthy of the title: 'Symboli Rudolf's trainer.'"
And now—after who knows how many loops—Kitano still could not bring himself to face her.
Because he had not yet become the person she hoped he would be.
He had not fulfilled the expectations Symboli Rudolf once placed upon him.
So, after his first loop as her trainer, every time he returned to Tracen in subsequent loops, he avoided her as much as possible.
Aside from reporting in on the first day, he always minimized their contact.
Fortunately, after everything Kitano has been through, he's not without growth. At the very least, when facing Rudolf again, he can now keep his expression steady, as though nothing had ever happened.
"Nice to meet you, President Rudolf—the one known as 'the Emperor,' a name truly thunderous to the ears."
Seeing the most familiar stranger in his life, Kitano gives a calm, gentle smile and reaches out his hand toward Rudolf.
"Hello, Trainer Kitano Ryuichi."
Behind Rudolf stand two other horse girls—one with eyeliner and light makeup, strikingly pretty; the other with a cold expression, a white bandage on her nose, a stalk of grass tucked in her mouth, giving off a sharp, gallant air.
These two are also old acquaintances of Kitano—Vice President Air Groove and Narita Brian. They've known each other for several cycles—though merely in an ordinary way. After all, Kitano didn't want to meet Rudolf, but some things only the Student Council could handle, so he worked closely with Air Groove and Brian, often relying on them to pass messages to Rudolf.
In fact, in the first cycle, he had even watched them grow up…
—or rather, watched them rise to fame and join the Student Council.
Kitano remembers how, when they had first entered the Council, they called him "senpai" with such earnestness that it warmed his heart…
Of course, in the second cycle, he became their junior, and he's already gotten used to that drastic shift in status.
"I heard you're the only one who successfully graduated from the Central Trainers Academy this year, and also the youngest trainer ever employed by Tracen Academy."
Rudolf clearly has a natural fondness and respect for those with a "genius aura," and as Kitano currently carries such an illusionary aura, Rudolf politely meets his extended hand with a smile.
"On behalf of Tracen Academy, I welcome you, Kitano Ryuichi."
But in the very next second—
the moment their hands meet—
it is as though a current surges through Rudolf's body, sending a strange jolt directly into her mind.
Her entire body stiffens inexplicably.
Countless shattered, glass-like fragments of memory flash through her brain.
---
"Good morning, Trainer-kun."
"Trainer-kun, don't mind the rumors. You're my trainer. Never doubt yourself."
"Trainer-kun… I really did it. The undefeated Triple Crown—just like you said."
"…Trainer-kun, I'm sorry. I still couldn't take that final step into the world stage. I should have listened to you sooner."
"Trainer-kun… I became president thanks to your support all the way. Thank you."
---
What was that?
Rudolf has no idea why these memories suddenly appeared, but in them she vaguely sees a figure—
a middle-aged man, older than her by many years, slightly weathered yet still handsome.
…Who is that?
Why does just the blurry image of him fill her with… joy?
And… sorrow?
Why does she feel sad? Even a little angry?
Before she can make sense of it, her consciousness wavers—and she snaps back to reality.
And in front of her—
the face she'd seen in those hazy memories—
that weathered, middle-aged man…
overlaps subtly with the youthful face of Kitano Ryuichi standing before her.
As though she is glimpsing Kitano—twenty years in the future.
Her pupils shrink faintly.
Realizing she reacted too strongly, she quickly composes herself and smiles:
"Sorry… I think there was a bit of static. It startled me."
"Nice to meet you, Trainer Kitano Ryuichi. I am Symboli Rudolf."
Is this their first meeting…
or a reunion long overdue?
Rudolf doesn't know.
But she feels something strange—
as if this young trainer resembles someone very important…
from a place deep within her lost memories.